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Rising Tensions: The U.S.–Russia Standoff and Its Consequences for NATO and Ukraine
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Beyond the Battlefield: Sudan’s Women and Children
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Fola Aina: The Current Islamist Insurgency in Nigeria
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Sudan: Theatre Where Many, Competing Interests Meet and Clash
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Bridging Land and Sea: Rethinking Security in the Red Sea Arena
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Promoting Evidence-based Policy and Good Governance

Democracy & Human Rights, Africa

Dec 3 , 2025

Op-Ed

Beyond the Battlefield: Sudan’s Women and Children

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More than two years into the Sudan's civil war, the power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group, continues unabated. The conflict erupted in April 2023, when a long-standing rivalry between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the SAF and Mohamed

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Defense & Security, Middle East

Dec 1 , 2025

Op-Ed

Global Power Shifts are Playing out in the Red Sea Region: Why This is Where the Rules are Changing

Global power shifts are playing out in the Red Sea region: why this is where the rules are changing Federico Donelli, University of Trieste The competition for global influence and control is shifting. One of the places where this dynamic is playing out is the Red Sea region, which encompasses

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Defense & Security, Europe & Central Asia

Nov 18 , 2025

Policy Brief

Rising Tensions: The U.S.–Russia Standoff and Its Consequences for NATO and Ukraine

Introduction President Donald Trump recently accused Russia of conducting underground nuclear tests, while President Vladimir Putin, responding to U.S. discussions about providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, warned that such a move would mark a “qualitatively new stage of escalation.”[1] These developments signal a renewed rise in U.S.-Russia tensions and highlight

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Terrorism & Extremism, Africa

Nov 17 , 2025

Podcast

Fola Aina: The Current Islamist Insurgency in Nigeria

In this episode, host Marta Furlan talks with Fola Aina about the current security situation in Nigeria and the threat posed by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. The episode starts with Dr. Aina giving a comprehensive and detailed overview of the current status of the Boko

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Democracy & Human Rights, Terrorism & Extremism, Africa

Nov 11 , 2025

Policy Brief

Sudan: Theatre Where Many, Competing Interests Meet and Clash

After 18 months of siege marked by starvation, targeted killings, and sexual violence, El Fasher – the capital of North Darfur – fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As of the time of this writing, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) control most of the north, east, and central regions,

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Defense & Security, Africa

Nov 6 , 2025

Policy Brief

Bridging Land and Sea: Rethinking Security in the Red Sea Arena

The Red Sea has shifted from a central shipping lane to a strategically important area linking Africa, Arabia, the Indo-Pacific, and global powers. The distinction between land and sea is fading — as are old assumptions about regional order. From Peripheral Sea to Global Chokepoint Long seen as a peripheral

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Defense & Security, South Asia

Oct 31 , 2025

Policy Brief

ASEAN Summit 2025: Navigating Great-Power Rivalry in Kuala Lumpur

From October 25 to 28, the ASEAN 47th Summit in Kuala Lumpur became the world’s most important diplomatic scenario. The summit gathered thirty heads of state and government, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The gathering, thus, has been crucial not only for the future of

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Americas

Oct 24 , 2025

Research

Funding Gaps and Service Cuts: Reimagining Public Transit for an Equitable Future

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Executive Summary Many major American metropolitan public transportation organizations are confronting critical funding shortfalls in the coming years, which they warn will force them to implement drastic service reductions and fare increases without further investment. Among other benefits, public transportation is a vital resource for vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, who

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Latest Research

Cyber Security & Info Technologies

Apr 25 , 2025

Policy Brief

An Analysis of ATM and Point-of-Sale Skimming

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ATM and POS skimming is a recurring societal problem, especially with the changing technological world. Recently, police discovered ATM skimming devices at convenience stores in York County and Lancaster County[1]. In Philadelphia, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were compromised due to skimming devices[2]. Although these are three macro-level events,

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Middle East

Apr 8 , 2025

Policy Brief

Omani Diplomacy and Prospects for Trump’s Presidency

Oman, an oasis of peace and stability in the turbulent Middle East, largely attributes its foreign policy’s success to its neutrality. Omani diplomacy has the potential to help President Donald J. Trump fulfill his 2024 campaign pledge to become a peacemaker in the Middle East. Omanis stress that their neutrality

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Defense & Security, Europe & Central Asia

Mar 27 , 2025

Policy Brief

The Importance of Controlling Bagram Air Base to US Interests in Afghanistan and Surrounding Areas

Recently, the U.S. has expressed the importance of who controls the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. In President Trump’s first cabinet meeting since returning to office, he and Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, discussed the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent loss of Bagram Air Base. In the meeting,

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Europe & Central Asia

Mar 21 , 2025

Policy Brief

Iran’s Foreign Affairs in the Caucasus

Iran has different foreign policy goals for various parts of its geographical periphery. The Caucasus is a matter of national security, internal stability, and international trade. Iran is not the only country with strategic interests in the Caucasus: Turkey and Russia seek to have an established presence in the region.

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Middle East

Mar 12 , 2025

Policy Brief

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Policy Shift: A New Peacemaker in the Middle East?

Saudi Arabia’s “positive neutrality” foreign policy doctrine is serving Riyadh’s interests. Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) has shrewdly navigated international crises, projecting the kingdom to the “forefront of world statecraft.” This has been underscored by the important Saudi role in hosting and/or mediating talks on ending

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Terrorism & Extremism, Africa

Mar 6 , 2025

Policy Brief

Islamic State in Somalia: A Global Threat and Efforts to Counter the Militants

On February 01, 2025, the United States (U.S.) conducted an airstrike against the Islamic State.[1] This was the first major military operation under the new administration in the U.S. But what is more interesting is that the target of the attack was in northern Somalia; the semi-autonomous region of Puntland

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